Takeaway: After this week's drift downwards, we're hoping to see trends accelerate.

Editor's Note: This is a complimentary research excerpt from Retail Sector Head Brian McGough. For more information on our services, click here.

ICSC - Chain Store Sales Index

Chain Store Sales: Hoping Against Hope - tumblr mp0b65iLOx1r6f15co1 1280 

The latest International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)-Goldman Sachs weekly index, which measures nominal same-store or comparable-store sales excluding restaurant and vehicle demand, has been released. The weekly index statistically represents industry sales and is not just a sum of sales for a handful of retailers.

What we see is not a disaster by any means, but last week's positive +2.1% reading gave us a glimmer of hope. This week, though, we drifted back down to just +1.5%.

Keep in mind, as outlined in the chart below, that we're about to go against a 10-week run last year where sales growth was well below 2012 levels. In other words, we have an easy comp.

We hope we'll see trends accelerate…but we hate relying on hope.

 Chain Store Sales: Hoping Against Hope - chart2 3 18

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